Liberalia Martiale 2017 - Collaboration

[Olis]

Welcome, Sons and Daughters of Corax! It is that time of year agian, the 17th of March. If you've been watching the scrolling banner for longer than most do, then you might have noticed that today, yes today, is Liber Day. Liberalia Martiale. A time to celebrate creativity in the written form.

But Olis, I hear you say, what the devil does the Raven Guard have to do with Titans? Um... Not terribly much. But we can be inventive! That's the beauty of this writing malarky.

We are going to attempt a collaborative story. I tried something like this last year with the Chaos subforum with some success, and I hope the Raven Guard will step up to the plate and make Corax proud. So, here's the deal. The first poster will determine the character involved and where the story goes at the start. Each person will write one paragraph to advance the story. And... that's it. All you have to do is try not to double post (although posting every other reply in the thread is permitted).

Should a full story play out, with a decent number of replies (let's say at least two pages), then the people who join in will be given a badge to display in their signature space, to prove their participation.

Setting the scene:
So, let us assume that you were part of the mission to Kastorel-Novem. Gargants, meks, stompas... the lot. It has not gone well. In fact, you are the last survivor of your squad. For the rest of the survivors of the task force to get off-world, you must intercept, disable and/or destroy a gargant. If you succeed, you must then attempt an extraction yourself.

[Damo1701]

With an impact like that of a Thunderfire Cannon, Brother Falmon Corwin hit the ground with the bodies of his sergeant and another member of his squad.  His white arms a paste of dust and darkening Astartes blood.  The rest of Talon Strikeforce Bannon was out of reach, and the vox was unintelligible, his brothers would not return to the chapter.  Taking stock of his situation, Corwin could hear and feel the brutish abomination of the Ork approaching, the sound of their chanting, and the mechanical bellow of the monstrous parody of an Imperial Titan they were swarming over.

 

He had two melta bombs, a handful of frag grenades, his lightning claw, and his partially functional power fist.  For now, he must attend his jump pack before returning to the fray.  That Gargant was heading directly for the Ravenguard staging area, whether the orks knew it or not, the Ravenguard were in danger of destruction on this world.  Would speed or stealth serve him the best? 

[Race Bannon]

Corwin looked to his fallen Brothers and acted quickly.  Pulling the cords holding their Corvia, he clumsily added the personal relics to his own as the bulky Power Fist made the task challenging.  Activating a status check for his jump pack, Corwin smiled as the fuel reserves were enough for several jumps.  Looking up, the Gargant slowly stomped closer to his Chapter's lines.  Destroying the Gargant was the mission, and without his Brothers, the task would be difficult, but he must do what he can.  He quickly plotted multiple jump routes to avoid as much attention as he could; the options were plentiful.  Corwin chose a path and pulsed his Jump Pack ...

[Damo1701]

and took to the air, aiming for a jutting piece of metalwork that looked like it would give him access to the internals of the stomping construct.  Landing, without a sound to be heard above the rattling and clanking of the orkoid machine, Corwin began examining the armour plating, checking his retinal display for weak points to exploit with his power fist.  

[Claws and Effect]

Corwin spotted a seam that was fitted poorly, even by greenskin standards, several meters below his position. It looked as though one solid blow could crack it open if he hit it just right. He took a deep breath as he waited for the perfect moment, then he leaped.....

[Damo1701]

And mistimed his grab.  Cursing, he grabbed a Krak grenade from his belt and hurled it at the offending seam.  Corwin triggered his jump pack to prevent him from hitting the ground as the grenade exploded, ripping the armour plate off the Gargant and sending it spinning through the space he had occupied moments earlier....

[WAR]

There was no rhyme or reason to how the "Kine", as his Battle Brothers in the Crimson Fist referred to the Orks, had built this abomination.  Panels of Red and black rusted metal haphazardly thrown together and quickly painted to get it out on the field of battle. During his service in the Deathwatch, Corwin made friends with a Leoxus Werner, a Sgt from the Crimson Fists Chapter. As Corwin rode atop this monstrosity, he could hear his friends voice in his head retelling stories of Crimson Fists fighting gargants and how they would deal with them . As the voice completed the story, Corwin saw it, the panel leading to the ammo storage for the gargants weapons the perfect distraction point.  "May the Emperor protect you Sgt Werner'" Corwn said aloud as he went after the ammunition storage access panel.

[Shadow Captain Vyper]

As he strode across the gangway towards the ammo storage, a guttural grunt was exerted as a crude greenskin dropped from gantry up above directly down in his path. The creature seemed completely unaware of Corwin's presence, headed towards the same door as himself. Corwin dropped to a crouched position and observed the creature. Covered in tinkerer's tools, with a clunky glass piece over one eye, Corwin could only hazard a guess that this Ork was a tech-adept of their kind (if such a thing could even be considered as rational). The creature fumbled at the door panel, making multiple loud grunts and almost barking like noises. Corwin watched and waited, hoping for the opportune time to overtake his opponent would present itself...

[Claws and Effect]

With the stealth only a son of Corax can achieve, Corwin crept up behind the oblivious xenos. Biding his time, Corwin waited for the Ork to pry the door open and save him the trouble of doing it himself. 

 

With a final grunt the heavy door swung open, revealing the dim interior of the massive construction. Just as the Ork was about to step inside Corwin activated the power field on his lightning claw and unceremoniously impaled it. With a squeal, the greenskin slid off Corwin's claw and flopped off the catwalk to bounce down to the ground below. With the Ork out of the way, Corwin poked his head into the ammo storage cavity......

[Damo1701]

<snip> following is better....

[WAR]

Corwin's eyes caught something that made him smile under his MK IV helm. Large Caliber rounds were stacked along a wall. Gripping the casing in his Lighting clawed hand and the large slug in the other he removed the large slugs showing the exposed gunpowder. He  continued doing this until he had 5 casings with exposed gun powder. He then began pouring the gunpowder across the floor leading to more stored ammunition and the exit path.  "This should be a good distraction" as he exited the room priming a grenade as he crept out.   

[Machine God]

Corwin's eyes caught something that made him smile under his MK IV helm. Large Caliber rounds were stacked along a wall. Gripping the casing in his Lighting clawed hand and the large slug in the other he removed the large slugs showing the exposed gunpowder. He  continued doing this until he had 5 casings with exposed gun powder. He then began pouring the gunpowder across the floor leading to more stored ammunition and the exit path.  "This should be a good distraction" as he exited the room priming a grenade as he crept out.   

 

Straight in to the path of a gaggle of screeching Orkoid menials and a whip wielding roaring Ork. Lashing about to his left and right with his lightning claw and power fist at the runts he activated his jump pack. His flight path caused him to bowl the Ork to the floor and the flames from his jump pack ignited the spilt cordite and gunpowder whilst he raced out of the area.

[Machine God]

Stupid work computers. Disregard the paragraph above that was made in answer to post #8.

 

The story should now read:

 

Straight in to the path of a gaggle of screeching Orkoid menials and a whip wielding roaring Ork. Lashing about to his left and right with his lightning claw and power fist at the runts he activated his jump pack. His flight path caused him to bowl the Ork to the floor and the flames from his jump pack ignited the spilt cordite and gunpowder whilst he raced out of the area.

[WAR]

Brother Corwin navigated the the twisting ruins as the hissing sounds of cordite and gunpowder ignited. Up ahead he could see the opening he had caused earlier or he could continue to the other side of the gargant by following the catwalks

[Machine God]

Brother Corwin navigated the the twisting ruins as the hissing sounds of cordite and gunpowder ignited. Up ahead he could see the opening he had caused earlier or he could continue to the other side of the gargant by following the catwalks

 

Brother Corwin decided to move to the other side by following the catwalks. He landed and noticed that the Gargant had listed quite severely to its left side due to the partial destruction of the weapons limb the melted iron works of the arm had not been blown clean of the Gargant and this mass was causing the list. So the Gargant was now headed still forward but veering to the left and so whilst it might miss the Raven's Guard staging area it still needed to be destroyed as an affront to the Omnissiah.

 

Whilst moving along the catwalk a sudden explosion caused him to slip off the gantry but with his superior reflexes he managed to grab a hold of the edge of the gantry with his lightning claw.

 

Edit: Typo.

[Damo1701]

With an impact like that of a Thunderfire Cannon, Brother Falmon Corwin hit the ground with the bodies of his sergeant and another member of his squad.  His white arms a paste of dust and darkening Astartes blood.  The rest of Talon Strikeforce Bannon was out of reach, and the vox was unintelligible, his brothers would not return to the chapter.  Taking stock of his situation, Corwin could hear and feel the brutish abomination of the Ork approaching, the sound of their chanting, and the mechanical bellow of the monstrous parody of an Imperial Titan they were swarming over.

 

He had two melta bombs, a handful of frag grenades, his lightning claw, and his partially functional power fist.  For now, he must attend his jump pack before returning to the fray.  That Gargant was heading directly for the Ravenguard staging area, whether the orks knew it or not, the Ravenguard were in danger of destruction on this world.  Would speed or stealth serve him the best? 

 

Corwin looked to his fallen Brothers and acted quickly.  Pulling the cords holding their Corvia, he clumsily added the personal relics to his own as the bulky Power Fist made the task challenging.  Activating a status check for his jump pack, Corwin smiled as the fuel reserves were enough for several jumps.  Looking up, the Gargant slowly stomped closer to his Chapter's lines.  Destroying the Gargant was the mission, and without his Brothers, the task would be difficult, but he must do what he can.  He quickly plotted multiple jump routes to avoid as much attention as he could; the options were plentiful.  Corwin chose a path and pulsed his Jump Pack and took to the air, aiming for a jutting piece of metalwork that looked like it would give him access to the internals of the stomping construct.  Landing, without a sound to be heard above the rattling and clanking of the orkoid machine, Corwin began examining the armour plating, checking his retinal display for weak points to exploit with his power fist. 

 

Corwin spotted a seam that was fitted poorly, even by greenskin standards, several meters below his position. It looked as though one solid blow could crack it open if he hit it just right. He took a deep breath as he waited for the perfect moment, then he leaped and mistimed his grab.  Cursing, he grabbed a Krak grenade from his belt and hurled it at the offending seam.  Corwin triggered his jump pack to prevent him from hitting the ground as the grenade exploded, ripping the armour plate off the Gargant and sending it spinning through the space he had occupied moments earlier.

 

There was no rhyme or reason to how the "Kine", as his Battle Brothers in the Crimson Fist referred to the Orks, had built this abomination.  Panels of Red and black rusted metal haphazardly thrown together and quickly painted to get it out on the field of battle. During his service in the Deathwatch, Corwin made friends with a Leoxus Werner, a Sgt from the Crimson Fists Chapter. As Corwin rode atop this monstrosity, he could hear his friends voice in his head retelling stories of Crimson Fists fighting gargants and how they would deal with them . As the voice completed the story, Corwin saw it, the panel leading to the ammo storage for the gargants weapons the perfect distraction point.  "May the Emperor protect you Sgt Werner'" Corwn said aloud as he went after the ammunition storage access panel.

 

As he strode across the gangway towards the ammo storage, a guttural grunt was exerted as a crude greenskin dropped from gantry up above directly down in his path. The creature seemed completely unaware of Corwin's presence, headed towards the same door as himself. Corwin dropped to a crouched position and observed the creature. Covered in tinkerer's tools, with a clunky glass piece over one eye, Corwin could only hazard a guess that this Ork was a tech-adept of their kind (if such a thing could even be considered as rational). The creature fumbled at the door panel, making multiple loud grunts and almost barking like noises. Corwin watched and waited, hoping for the opportune time to overtake his opponent would present itself. With the stealth only a son of Corax can achieve, Corwin crept up behind the oblivious xenos. Biding his time, Corwin waited for the Ork to pry the door open and save him the trouble of doing it himself. 

 

With a final grunt the heavy door swung open, revealing the dim interior of the massive construction. Just as the Ork was about to step inside Corwin activated the power field on his lightning claw and unceremoniously impaled it. With a squeal, the greenskin slid off Corwin's claw and flopped off the catwalk to bounce down to the ground below. With the Ork out of the way, Corwin poked his head into the ammo storage cavity Corwin's eyes caught something that made him smile under his MK IV helm. Large Caliber rounds were stacked along a wall. Gripping the casing in his Lighting clawed hand and the large slug in the other he removed the large slugs showing the exposed gunpowder. He  continued doing this until he had 5 casings with exposed gun powder. He then began pouring the gunpowder across the floor leading to more stored ammunition and the exit path.  "This should be a good distraction" as he exited the room priming a grenade as he crept out. Straight in to the path of a gaggle of screeching Orkoid menials and a whip wielding roaring Ork. Lashing about to his left and right with his lightning claw and power fist at the runts he activated his jump pack. His flight path caused him to bowl the Ork to the floor and the flames from his jump pack ignited the spilt cordite and gunpowder whilst he raced out of the area.

 

Brother Corwin navigated the the twisting ruins as the hissing sounds of cordite and gunpowder ignited. Up ahead he could see the opening he had caused earlier or he could continue to the other side of the gargant by falling the catwalks. Brother Corwin decided to move to the other side by following the catwalks. He landed and noticed that the Gargant had listed quite severely to its left side due to the partial destruction of the weapons limb the melted iron works of the arm had not been blown clean of the Gargant and this mass was causing the list. So the Gargant was now headed still forward but veering to the left and so whilst it might miss the Raven's Guard staging area it still needed to be destroyed as an affront to the Omnissiah.

 

Whilst moving along the catwalk a sudden explosion caused him to slip off the gantry but with his superior reflexes he managed to grab a hold of the edge of the gantry with his lightning claw.

Assessing the space he had, Corwin triggered his jump pack for a fraction of a second, cannoning him towards the rusty ceiling.  Deftly activating his power fist, Corwin punched through the approaching obstacle and found himself in some sort of mess.  Orks and grots were frozen, in the midst of eating, sleeping, fighting, drinking, shooting at each other.

[Claws and Effect]

"'Ere, dis 'umie mus be wot cozzed all dat ruckus!" snarled the largest of them "Get 'im, lads!" 

 

As the large Ork spoke he grabbed a passing grot and hurled it in the veteran's direction. Corwin skewered the terrified grot on his inert lightning claw and activated its power field with a thought, blowing the hapless xenos​ to pieces. As he slaughtered greenskins, the Raven Guard looked around for an exit from the tiny, filthy room. Spotting a door he began to work his way toward it when suddenly the large Ork that had thrown a grot at him stepped in his way. 

 

"Where ya tink yoos goin', 'umie?"

[Race Bannon]

Without caring to speak to the giant menace, Corwin raised the Power Fist deliberately slower than he could.  The Ork watched the weapon and parried with his axe easily.  His momentum from the defense made him blind to Corwin's second attack.  With the Fist pushed away, Corwin's other arm was dragged with more force and the Lightning Claw was brought down, severing the lumbering Ork's arms at the elbows.  Howling in pain and spraying green blood, it staggered away from the Raven Guard. 

[Damo1701]

While the beast was distracted, Corwin knocked its head clear off its shoulders and watched in disgust as the grots started grinning wickedly and tearing hunks of flesh from the corpse.

[WAR]

Corwin not wanting to waste more time then he already had, primed a frag grenade and dropped at the grots feet as they devoured the fallen ork. Moving quickly Corwin heard the small explosion and then silence as the grenade exploded. "Guns disabled, damage is causing it to list to one side.....if I can find the engine area and cause this monstrosity to stop completely maybe then " thought Corwin to himself.

[Claws and Effect]

".......I can take it out of the fight" Corwin finished his thought. 

 

Thinking for a moment, Corwin decided that the most logical place for the engine room would be as close to the legs as possible, in this case, down. Orks don't always do the logical thing, but he couldn't stand around all day either so he began tapping around with one power armored foot in search of a place that sounded more hollow than the others. 

 

After finding a spot that met his requirements he activated his power fist and brought his left hand crashing down to the deck in front of him. With a squeal of tearing metal, he opened up a hole large enough for himself​ and dropped through.....

[Damo1701]

Using his power fist, Corwin grabbed a dangling cable and used it to guide his descent.  With his right hand, Corwin checked his explosives levels.  One Krak grenade, 2 melta bombs, and 3 frags.  His power levels were approaching critical, and he could still not contact Strike Force Command.  Satisfied with the damage he was causing so far, the veteran marine deactivated most of his armour systems he deemed non-essential...

[WAR]

As he slid down the cable, Corwin could hear the growl of the engine growing louder. He began slowing his descent by clinching his fist around the cable. "No need to drop down into a mob orks," he calmly thought. As he approached the bowels of the Gargant and it's engine bay. He hoped his remaining explosives would be enough or this may prove to be a challenge.

[Machine God]

As he slid down the cable, Corwin could hear the GROWL of the engine growing louder. He began slowing his descent by clinching his fist around the cable. "No need to drop down into a mob orks," he calmly thought. As he approached the bowels of the Gargant and it's engine bay. He hoped his remaining explosives would be enough or this may prove to be a challenge.

[Machine God]

Brother Corwin knew the heat of battle slowed things down and non-essential things the brain got rid of, but he wondered too. Why have I only seen three Orks and some Gretchin in the whole of this Gargant? It's not a small Stompa, I should have been swarmed by Orks by now! Surely Corax was smiling on him but there must be hundreds of Orks still to come in that engine room...